James btjech



J. BURCH.

POISON INDICATOR.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. I. I9I5.

l 1 94,948; Patented Aug. 15, 1916.

Slwmwtoz L dfiles Bard/ v JAMES BURCH, OF MCKEESPORT, PENNSYLVANIA.

POISON-INDICATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 1, 1915. Serial N 0. 48,507.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, JAMES BURCH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Me- Keesport, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Poison-Indicators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates .to poison indicators,

and it has for its object to produce a very simple and inexpensive device which may be readily applied to the cork or stopper of a bottle containing poisonous material to serve as a warning indicator.

A further object of the invention is to produce a device of the character described which while constituting an unfailing warning will not interfere with the manipulation and removal of the cork.

A further object of the invention is to produce a device of the character described which may be inexpensively made and which may be applied to the cork or stopper of a poison receptacle and secured on the same by a pin or other like fastening dev1ce.

With these and other ends in view which will readily appear as the nature of the. invention is better understood, the same consists in the improved construction and novel arrangement and combination of parts which will be hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawing has been illustrated a simple and preferred form of the invention, it being, however, understood that no limitation is necessarily made to theprecise structural details therein exhibited, but that changes, alterations and modifications within the scope of the claim may be resorted to when desired.

In thedrawing,Figure 1 is a plan view of a poison indicator constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing a bottle to which the invention has been applied. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation showing how the cork may be removed without removing-the indicator.

The improved poison indicator is preferably made of durable and resilient sheet material, such as celluloid, this materialbeing of a nature which lends itself particularly well to the purpose of this invention. It 1s to be understood, however, that any other material or combination of materials may be employed.

The indicator consists primarily of a circular ring 15 having a diametrical bridge piece 16 provided with bulging side portions 17, the edges of which are concentric with the ring. The latter is provided at its circumference with radially extending teeth or prongs 18. The entire device maybe readily stamped, cut or otherwise formed from a sheet of suitable material, and the top face thereof is preferably inscribed with suitable warning such as the words Poison, Handle with care or the like. The center of the bridge portionmaybe pierced with a smaller aperture 19 for the passage ofa fastening member, such as a pin 20.

In the use of this device the bottle or container 21 in which poisonous material is dispensed is provided with a stopper 22 which may consist of an ordinary cork. The poison indicator is secured to the cork on the top face of the latter by means of the pin 20 in such a manner that the serrated edge will overhang the cork as Well as the top of the bottle, the device being preferably made of such dimensions that the bulging portions 17 of the bridge piece 16 will substantially coincide with the edge of the cork. The latter, as is customary, is permitted to project slightly above the mouth of the bottle. It is obvious that anyone grasping the bottle and attempting to remove the cork will receive instant warning by contact of his fingers with the serrated edge of the indicator. Assuming, however, that the contents of the bottle is required, the cork may be readily removed without removing the indicator by simply bearing down on the portions of the ring intermediate the ends of the bridge piece, the ring being readily flexible so as to permit the stopper to be grasped through the open spaces between the ring and the side portions of the bridge piece, as will be very clearly seen in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The cork may thus be re- Patented Aug. 15, 1916.

moved and replaced without disturbing the indicator and the consequent danger of misplacing it or omitting to replace the same through forgetfulness.

It is obvious that other means than a pin ios may be used for attaching the indicator to the cork, and no limitation is made or intended in this respect.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is

In combination a stopper for bottles, a poison indicator formed of a single piece of material and comprising a ring having its outer peripheral edge serrated, a bridge piece extending diametrically of the ring and having its medial portion enlarged, the

JAMES BURCH.

Witnesses:

HENRY ANDERSON HARWOOD, CHARLES D. KOEHLER. 

